Arne Slot insists Liverpool’s recruitment strategy will not change despite the Premier League’s growing shift toward a more direct, physical style of play this season.
The Reds have endured a disappointing defence of their record-equalling 20th title, with many opponents adopting aggressive, set-piece-focused tactics.
Slot admitted on Monday that many matches he has watched this campaign were “not a joy to watch,” reflecting wider concerns about the league’s entertainment value.
Ironically, Liverpool have thrived from dead-ball situations in recent months.
After being the least productive side from set-pieces earlier in the season, no team has scored more non-penalty set-piece goals in the Premier League this calendar year.
That resurgence has boosted their push for Champions League qualification, with Liverpool aiming to climb into third place with victory over bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, Arne Slot has stressed the club will continue to follow the long-established transfer model set by Fenway Sports Group when strengthening the squad this summer.
“We have our own model over here, as I said many times, and our model is that we sign young players,” said the Reds boss.
“It’s normal for younger players that they have to adapt usually more towards the Premier League, than if you sign players that have already played in the Premier League, that are 27 and are already in the end of their physical (growth).
“But it’s exactly the reason why we have our model, because we believe that players can get better. This club has shown that we can achieve things, as we did six years ago and last season, with our model.”
Liverpool overhauled their squad last summer and have already agreed a £60million deal to sign 20-year-old French centre-back Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes at the end of the season.
Slot added: “A rebuild takes time, a transition takes time, and that’s what we did last summer.
“But we didn’t expect the league to become like it did this season. You couldn’t know this because last season it wasn’t as extreme as it is this season.
“That is usually what happens. If a team has a success in a certain area then it is being copied. Ten to 15 years ago a lot of people wanted to play like Barcelona.
“Let’s hope the one that wins the World Cup has a great style of play, wins it by scoring open play goal after open play goal and doesn’t win it for a different reason.
“(The Premier League is) powerful in the sense that every ball is being kicked forward, especially in the beginning of the season, that was especially against us. That has settled down a little bit in my opinion. in the first 10 games or something, it was just long ball after long ball after long ball, direct style.”
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